Durbadal Mishra

Sonepur, Sept. 22: The body of Durbadal Mishra, additional district medical officer at the headquarters hospital, was found with his throat slit barely 10 metres from his residence at Palace Garden here last night.

Police sources said the incident took place around 10pm on Sunday when the doctor came home after work.

Unidentified assailants, who were waiting for him, allegedly dragged Mishra to an isolated place near his house and slit his throat with a sharp weapon and stabbed him on the face. The police recovered five rounds of live ammunition from the spot. A forensic team, accompanied by a sniffer dog, visited the spot today.

In protest against the murder, doctors at the district headquarters hospital today boycotted duty. All the medical stores and clinics in the town also remained closed.

The 51-year-old doctor, a child specialist, lived with his wife. His son and daughter are studying outside the district.

That the goons had dragged him was evident from the fact that his two-wheeler was found parked near the house. Mishra, a native of Sambalpur, had been working in the district for around 15 years and became the additional medical officer two years ago.

A local resident said the doctor had finished work at the hospital and spent a few minutes at a clinic before heading for his residence around 10pm.

Senior officers, including Sonepur superintendent of police Sara Sharma, visited the spot. All roads leading out of Sonepur have been sealed. Mishra’s relative Manabhanjan said: “I find it difficult to understand why someone would kill such a nice person. He was a popular doctor. He had no enmity with anyone,” he said.